.308 vs 30-06?!

Either the .308 or 30.06 will do the job. On paper, the 30.06 has a little more performance with a little more recoil. Real world, either will do the job assuming you do yours.

Buy the one you like best.
 
:)
I like the 308 but that is my opinion.
I have 4 rifles in 308 Winchester all bought new.
Savage 99 F Lever Action
Remington 700 Bolt Action
Remington 750 Woodsmaster Semi Automatic
New Winchester Model 70 Bolt Action made in South Carolina.
If I need anything bigger than the 308 the Weatherby Mark V Deluxe Rifle comes out in 460 Weatherby Magnum.
Fred
 
both rounds are versatile enough to handle both whitetails and elk effectively. the difference in energy and range is pretty negligible. the 308 is probably the best for long range shots while the 30-06 is holds more energy at close distance. neither will overly damage deer or other medium game as long as you place your shots well while both will generate the necessary shock to take down larger game when used in conjunction with soft point or ballistic tip ammo.

06 rifles are generally easier to come by while 308 ammo is slightly cheaper to practice with. whatever flavor suits you best. I don't shoot 308 very often but having shot 30-06, 303 brit, 7.62x54R quite a bit I would say that just about any 30 cal rifle cartridge would be able to do either job well, even getting into the 7.62x39 or 30-30 range as long as you kept to close range(flame suit on) would be able to take an elk with a good soft point.
 
I own a 30-06. A shooting pal has a 308. I'm not a big game hunter, but he is and he's had no trouble whatsoever taking a couple of Colorado elk in recent years. I like the -06 more for sentimental reasons than anything else. The 308's short action is nice in a bolt rifle, though. I think the real world performance difference between the two is pretty small. My advice (worth what you paid for it) would be to get whichever you may have a slight preference towards.
 
This is a regular topic. A search of the forum will show a bunch of threads with the same title.

The odds of someone needing a rifle configured to take advantage of the .30-06 are pretty slim. So just flip a coin.
 
I was at Midway browsing and see they have a form & trim die to form 308 Winchester cases from 30/06 brass in one stroke. What a great idea! I want one.:cool:
 
I own and like both. The correct answer is that you need both rounds. Pick the one you want first by flipping a coin.
 
If you think that your elk hunting will happen over open ground with longer ranges, then go 06.
If you're mostly shooting white tails and you think you'll get your elk shot off in 250 yards or less, .308 will be your best solution.

My 2c. Happy hunting, mate.
 
I would go with he 30-06. Nothing at all wrong with the 308 but I feel that for what you want that the 30-06 would be better, not that the 308 would not work.
 
I don't have the numbers in front of me, but the .308 is more efficient than the .30-06. 'Something like 6% less energy but 20% less recoil are the numbers I recall reading. It takes more powder and gives more recoil to launch that .30 bullet from a .30-06 cartridge. However, if you absolutely need 220gr bullets, then the .30-06 is the only choice (or higher).
 
I have loaded 180s to 2800fps in the ought. With 150s, my 308s are more accurate. If Elk are in the equation, choose the ought.
 
Hi, not trying to jack the thread, put for mostly paper shooting which is more accurate? I'd assume the .308 because of the lesser recoil. Am i right?
 
Extensive R&D plus somewhat more efficient case dimensions make the .308 a better choice for target shooting. Not a lot, but enough to win competitions.
 
Hi, not trying to jack the thread, put for mostly paper shooting which is more accurate? I'd assume the .308 because of the lesser recoil. Am i right?
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I have both calibers and reload for them. The 308 will produce slightly smaller groups than the 30-06 when both are loaded to the same velocities with the same bullet, powder, and primer. I attribute this to the fact that the 308 load has a higher case density for a given load than the 30-06 due to it's smaller case size and so produces slightly more consistent shots. The difference, however, is small and for hunting purposes not an issue.

Further, commercial '06 ammo produces about 100fps higher velocities with the same bullet weights than the 308 (e.g. Win Power Point 150grn: '06 - 2,910fps vs .308 - 2,820fps or 180grn: '06 - 2,700fps vs .308 - 2,620fps). As others have said, I've found that the 30-06's advantage is when handloading for top end velocities and/or the use of heavier bullets, i.e. over 180grns.
 
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If you are hunting bigger game at longer ranges w/ heavy bullets (e.g., elk in Idaho) go with the 20% larger powder capacity of the `06.

Pretty much all else is more than satisfied with the more efficient 308Win.
 
've been hearing a constant argument about whats better, .308 or 30-06. I hunt mostly whitetails but plan on going elk hunting soon and i want a rifle that will be versatle enough to have me tag both species, so am i better off shooting a .308 or a 30-06
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I have used both. The .308 is more accurate and has more efficient powder burn. With the new powders of today plus a longer barrel (26") you will have the same performance.
There is no need to go beyond 180 gr bullets. You can kill a moose with a .308 no problem. Heck there are hunter's over here that are killing moose and elk with .30-30.
Whatever the .30-06 can do, the .308 will do as well. In .308 is there are so many rifles to choose from. (22", 24", and 26" heavier barreled rifles) Most .30-06's come with only 22" barrel.
 
In .308 is there are so many rifles to choose from. (22", 24", and 26" heavier barreled rifles)
Most .30-06's come with only 22" barrel.
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Huh? :confused: (Big time...)

Whatever the .30-06 can do, the .308 will do as well.
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Actually, that's (a bit) akin to saying that whatever the 300WinMag can do, the 30-06 can do a well. :rolleyes:

I am a fan of the 308Win. It is the quarter horse of rifles/does everything well. ...and both
the `06 and the 300WM bring potentially unnecessary power to the game -- particularly for a
hand loader -- for most East-of-the-Mississippi needs.

But 20% less powder capacity between the 308/30-06 still tells when the chips are down, the
ranges are longer, and the target is bigger (with an attitude) west of the Big Muddy and/or north of 54-40.
 
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IF you reload for a bolt the the advantage goes to the .06 IMO it is the thee most versatile round you can reload up or down. All other things considered after that they are about the same, given the same bullet weights.
 
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